It’s a new year and many chiropractors are evaluating what will enhance their respective practices, particularly as it relates to their bottom line. One of the most common questions I get is: “Do I need to be credentialed to bill insurance, and what are the best plans to join?” It’s a loaded question – but one every DC ponders. Whether you're already in-network or pondering whether to join, here's what you need to know.
Division of Chiropractic Medicine Established at Philadelphia Hospital
Franklin Square Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a fully accredited 215-bed teaching hospital, recently established a division of chiropractic medicine. The division will function under the hospital's Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
The hospital's board of directors has approved DCs to act as primary care physicians within the hospital setting, consistent with their clinical training.
Eligibility for staff privileges requires that the DC be a graduate from a chiropractic college approved by a national chiropractic accrediting agency, which is fully approved by the United States Office of Education (USOE) and the Council on Post-Secondary Accreditation (COPA).
Julius M. D'Angelantonio, D.C., and Marc C. Cohen, D.C., of the Pennsylvania Academy of Chiropractic Physicians (PACP) are chairman and co-chairman respectively of the chiropractic division. The PACP has been working continuously since its founding in 1978 to establish hospital privileges for DCs in Pennsylvania.